Can you write a disaster book?

So, this group has put me to thinking about local disasters and whether they are worth writing about, would a publisher pay attention and is there a market. My area had catastrophic hurricane driven floods in 1916 and 1940. Hurricane Hugo really did a number and there were smaller events that might have a more focused audience such as the collapse of the overhead walkway at the Charlotte Motor Speedway a few years ago. Do you think that you could write a disaster book and what unexplored area would you go after?

>1 varielle:

Hi, Varielle--

I've seen (and own a few books) from two publishers who work with local authors to issue books about disasters in particular states. One publisher is Globe Pequot, with books such as Disasters and Heroic Rescues of North Carolina: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival (Disasters Series). The other is Taylor Trade Publishing, with titles such as Texas Disasters: Wind, Flood, and Fire. (Check to see if they have one yet for your state, and if so, are the books out-of-date yet.)

Also, Arcadia Publishing accepts works from local archivists on the history of their areas, usually a particular town or university. These are in a pictorial format, but Arcadia might be ready for a new series in a more text-driven format. I've talked with them about a pictorial local history idea I had before and they were very open to it. (I didn't follow through, but that wasn't their fault.)

There are probably a number of "vanity publishers" that would offer a service for a previously unpublished author, but I've found that books from most of those publishers tend to be shoddy and poorly edited, and might not be well marketed.

Amazon sells books from Globe Pequot, Taylor Trade, and Arcadia which makes me think there is a market for works under their imprints. And I know that local bookstores always carry, and seem to do an excellent business with the Arcadia books.

I think the best approach would be to write a book that covers disasters in a specific geographic area and to be certain to include and give the most coverage to the most recent events since that would set your work apart from ones that were published earlier.

With Arcadia I found that all they needed to get started with my idea was ... my idea. They could then send a list of the specifications that would need to be met for the book such as number of pages, quality of photos, legality requirements for photos used, etc.

So to answer your final question, I don't think that I could write a disaster book because I don't stick with projects I start. But I have a feeling you could. And for an unexplored area I would think of the most recent disasters, and I would be sure to look closely at similar books to what you are planning and see what they DON'T cover.

I love the idea that might do something like this. Keep us posted!

>2 debherter:

P.S. I do go on, don't I?

Maybe in retirement when I have some time on my hands. Still far in the future. By then there will be fresh disasters to explore.

Awww...I don't want to have to wait. Don't you make me go out there and write my own book! LOL

Also, it is only in this group that we could say "there will be fresh disasters to explore" and see it as kind of a good thing.